Sheet metal container



July 1932- c. H. ROLLASON 1,869,349

SHEET METAL CONTAINER Filed Oct. 3. 1930 occupying elevated position;

Patented July 26, 1932 UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION, OF WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA A COBPORAIION OF DELA- WARE CHARLES H. ROLLASON, OF WHEEIIING, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGN'OR.TO WHEELING snnnr METAL: CONTAINER Application filed October 3, 1930. Serial No. 486.0%.

This invention relates broadly to sheet metal containers, and more specifically to that type of can or drum which embodies in the head end a removable cover and which arecommonly employed as containers for greases and other semi-solid materials. 1

The primary object of the invention is to provide a container of the character mentioned embodying a cover of the self-retaining lug type which, following its release, effected by outward bending of its lugs, remains attached at one side to the head of the container through a hinge-like connection and which, therefore, may be swung to and from its closing position as and when occasion arises.

It Will be understood that, in the use. of grease containers of this general type having covers which are completely detachable, such covers are frequently cast aside and, through carelessness on the part of users, or because of distortion thereof resulting from mishandling, are not replaced from time to time. In such cases, dirt, grit and other foreign matter deleterious or ruinous to the contents are readily admitted.

The present invention is designed. to provide a cover which, though it may be wholly detached when desired, need not necessarily be removed to permit access to the contents, being attached to the container head in such manner that it may readily be swung toand from an upright position with respect to the head, as upon a hinge. I

A further ob'ect is to provide, in a container of the character mentioned, a cover which, following an initial thrust or push applied thereto, is automatically actuated to return from its upright position to its lowered closing position, and which, consequently,

does not require that it be carefully fitted in placed by hand. Y t In describing the invention in detail,reference is herein had to the accompanying drawing, in which- -Figure 1 is a vertical section of the head end-of a container embodying my invention, showing the cover occupying closing position Figure 2 is a similar view with the cover Figure 3 is a sectional elevation, the section being taken at right angles to .the section shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and

Figure 4 is a detail section illustrating a modified form. 1

Referring to said drawing, 1 designates the container body, and 2 a head which is per manently attached to said body. Said head has an upstanding neck 3 defining an opening through which access is had tothe interior of w the container for'the introduction and removal of the contents. Said neck 3 prefwhich depend from the flange 5 and which, .during'shipment and storage, are tucked into underlying cover-securing relation to the roll l of the neck 3, as ordinarily.

Rigidly attached to the under sideof the 7 cover 6 adjacent to one side thereof is an end of a flexible leaf spring 8 of fiat,tongue "-like form which, in the lowered seating position of said cover, has the body portion thereof occupying a downwardly and outwa'rdlyin clined position wherein it lies at a distance below the adjacent edge portion of the head 2. The outer end portion of said springs is curved upwardly to lie approximatelyat a right angle to the body thereof and engages said head, as shown. A transverse upwardly pressed crimp or rib 9 formed 'inthe free end'portion of said spring is received in an upwardly-indented channel-like seat 10 provided therefor in the under side offsaid head 2.

In the upright position of the cover, as

' shown in Figs. 2 and 3, thevspring 8 has the rib 9 thereof retained within the channel 10, while a substantial intermediate portion of the length of the spring rests againstand'is supported by or against the adjacent wall of the neck 3 of the'head. So positioned, the

spring exerts a force which tends to maintain the cover more or less rigidly against movement. When, however, said cover has been 1 from the head.

forcibly moved toward closing position throughout a relatively short distance, said spring is placed under a tension which eX- erts a force in the direction of the movement and completes the closing movement with considerable rapidity, or with a snap.

In its' uprignt open position, the cover is supported by. the spring with its seating flangee partially removed from, the terminal roll 4 oftheneclr 3 and occupiessubstantially the position shown in Fig. 2' wherein the angle between the cover bodyandsaid flange rests upon said roll. As the cover returns to its closing position, the flange 5"resumes its-seated relation to said roll.

IA resilient latch 11 is p'referaby carried on the" edge of the under side of the cover diametrically opposite the location of the spring 8, "said latch being designed to yieldinglyinterengage the head 2 at the angle between the latter and' the' neck 3, as'shown in Fig; 1. Said latch may, if preferred, be formed as an integral part of the spring 8, a strap-like memher 12 attached'to the'und'er side of'the cover,

as by spot welds, having said latch and said spring formed on the opposite ends thereof.

1 A; suitable handle, as the wire ring 13, may be mounted on the top of the cover 6 adjacent to the edge of the latter at a point opposite the spring 8, saidhandle' providing means whereby the cover'may be grasped for raising to its open position.

In the modification illustrated 'in'Fig. i

the'headQ hasa downwardly directed'neck 3 defining the opening thereof, andjthe cover 6 is provided with'an annular seating-flange 5 adapted to rest uponthe top surface of said head. The spring 8 Whiclr'may have its end shaped to "form' a terminal bead'or' roll 19, rather than the rib'shown inFi-gs. 1, 2 and 3, occupiesseated underlying relation to the :head and is preferably shiftable on said'head ftoward andavvay from the neck 3*in opening and closing ofthe cover. With this construc- "tion the channel-like seat 10 maybe-omitted Manifestly, chance disengagement of said cover from the head is prevented by the interengageinent of said spring with the neck 3 The spring, interengaged with the head of "the container as described, constitutes a hinge-like connection Which possesses the advantages that no part' thereof is rigidly or permanently attached to the head of] the container, that it permits the cover to be Wholfly detached from the container when occasion requiresftha titfunctions to forcibly return fthe cover to closing position following an" initial shifting of the' covertowa'rd said =posit1on, and that 1t serves 'to"yield1ngly maintain said cover in its full open position after elevation thereof. What is claimed is-=- 1 A sheet metal container comprising a body having ahead,-said head being provided position. I

with an opening defined by a neck of flange form, a cover for said opening having a seating flange, a resllient member mounted on the under side of and Wholly supported by said cover, said member having an end por tion thereof extended intounderlying relation to an adjacent portion of said'head and having an angularly disposed terminal porn i p i nler e ea ie g coveragainst. movement from either its seated or its upright position. v w 2. A; sheet 'inetal containercomprising a body, a head attached tosaid body and havingtherein an opening'defined an angular 'ly disposed neck, cover-for said opening having a seating flange forrestin'g upon said neck, resilientmember carr ed onfthe under side of said'covefr and having an endpor- 'tlon thereof extended into underlyingpivob ally seated relation to a portion of saidh'ead,

tion betweensaid cover andsaid headandbeing adapte'd'to exert ayielding forcetend, ing to retain said cover' against-movement from either -its seatedj 'or its upright open 3. A sheet metal container comprising 'a body, a head attached to'said bodyand having therein {tn-opening defined by an upright neck, cover for-vsa1dopen1ng havingan outwardly turned seating flange, a springof' flat tongue-like v form attached-to: said: cover and having anend clineddownwardly and outwardly into underlying relation to said head, said end having therein a transverse upwardly-pressed rlb andsa-id lie'adhavlng therein an upwardly 1I1de11t6d S2Lt*WItl1 which sai drib is interengaged, saidv cover be l ng adapted to swing on-said spring to-and from upright position wherein an intermediate portion of said springi rests against said" from its seated or itslupri'ght position.

*4. -15 sheet metal 1 container comprising a body, ahead attached tosaid' body and.h ing therein an openingdefined-by an ig neck, a cover for seatin within said neck, a resilienttonguedike member carried onithe under side of said cover, saidimeinber in the se'ated'position of said coverextending downwardly and outwardly beneathsaid'head and havingflits end. portion bent-upwardly :into underlying seated relation to saidhead-,said end portion having therein a transverse rib and said-head; having thereinan upwardly indented seat with which said rib. is -interfrom an upright: position,saidresilient inemneck, a cover for seating within said neck,

a flat tongue-like spring carried on the under side of said cover, said spring in the seated position of said cover extending down'-' Wardly and outwardly beneath said head, said head having therein an upwardly indented seat, and said spring having a terminal portion interengaged with and adapted for rotary movement on said seat, said cover being adapted for movement relative to its seated position to and from an elevated position wherein an intermediate portion of said spring occupies seated cover-supporting relation to said neck, said spring in each of the opposite positions of said cover being placed under tension which tends to resist movement.

6. A sheet metal container comprising a body having a head, said head being provided with an opening defined by a neck flange, a cover adapted to fit Within said neck in closing relation to said opening, a resilient member carried on the under side of said cover and having its body inclined downwardly into underlying relation to said head, said body having its terminal portion bent to lie at an angle thereto and occupying seated relation to said head adjacent to said neck flange, said member forming a hinge-like connection between said cover and said head and, at each of its opposite limits of movement, yieldingly resisting movement therefrom.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

CHARLES H. ROLLASON. 

